Catalan separatists' trial goes 'against political dissidence'

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Catalan separatists' trial goes 'against political dissidence'

A sensitive trial against a dozen Catalan separatist politicians and activists got underway today in Spain's Supreme Court amid protests by pro-independence supporters and a highly volatile political environment.
The defendants are being tried on rebellion and other charges stemming from their roles in pushing ahead with a unilateral independence declaration in October 2017. The declaration ...

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A sensitive trial against a dozen Catalan separatist politicians and activists got underway today in Spain's Supreme Court amid protests by pro-independence supporters and a highly volatile political environment.
The defendants are being tried on rebellion and other charges stemming from their roles in pushing ahead with a unilateral independence declaration in October 2017. The declaration was based on the results of a divisive secession referendum that ignored a constitutional ban.
The trial, arguably Spain's most important in four decades of democracy, began as the future of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's minority government hinges on last-minute negotiations with Catalan pro-independence parties to back his 2019 budget.
Sanchez could be forced to call an early election if the Catalan separatists, whose support brought the Socialists to power last year, don't change their current position of voting against the prime minister's spending plan on Wednesday. A debate in the parliament's lower house began today.
The separatists want Sanchez to agree to talks on self-determination for their region, but the government argues that the country's constitution doesn't allow it.
Tensions between regional and central authorities peaked with the 2017 breakaway attempt but the conflict has been festering ever since. The 7.5 million residents of Catalonia remain divided by the secession question.
Former Catalan Vice President Oriol Junqueras, the regional parliament's former Speaker Carme Forcadell and the other 10 defendants were not expected to testify today, but they sat on four benches in the middle of the courtroom.
They sat facing a seven-judge panel headed by Supreme Court magistrate Manuel Marchena, who moderates proceedings.
Junqueras' lawyer, Andreu Van Den Eynde, was the first to speak, arguing that the cause goes "against political dissidence.''
"We are before an exceptional trial,'' he told the judges, adding that "self-determination is the formula to avoid conflicts in the world.''
Catalan President Quim Torra, a fervent separatist, followed the proceedings from the back of the courtroom, where 100 seats were reserved for defendants' relatives, journalists and members of the public who lined up for hours to get one of the limited spots.
Junqueras faces up to 25 in prison if he's found guilty of rebellion, while others charged with sedition or misuse of public funds could get lower sentences if convicted. -AP